Newsletter No 11 Dear Parents and Friends Friday 27 November 2015 On Sunday we begin the season of Advent when we officially start the journey to Christmas. It is the time when we really reflect and prepare to celebrate the birth of Jesus. As you can imagine, we are all very busy preparing for the many different events to make this a very special time for all our Holy Cross family. Please try to support these events and help us to show the children the real meaning and magic of Christmas. Staffing - Welcome Mrs Burton! With the excitement of takeover Day last Friday, I did not officially welcome Mrs Victoria Burton who has joined the staff as a Teaching Assistant. I am sure you will all get the opportunity to meet during the Christmas festivities. She has settled very well into our school family! Back to normal this week; George let me have my job back! As you will read, the last few weeks of the term are hectic! I appreciate your suppport as there have been several non uniform days for different reasons.there are only four more after today, one to acknowledge the importance of our British saints, Christmas Fayre, school disco and Christmas jumpers for Christmas lunch day. Thank you for entering into the Christmas spirit. Mass of Commitment for Year 3 and Year 6 Thank you to everyone who attended The Mass of Commitment on Sunday 22 November. Those parents who did not attend but do wish their child to receive the Sacraments of Reconciliation, First Communion or Confirmation, must speak to Fr Neil to discuss the matter. Thank you. Mass: Year 6 will lead our Mass in Church on Thursday 3 December. Everyone is welcome. NSPCC Assembly and Workshops for Y5 and Y6 This week Year 5 and Year 6 attended an assembly ran by the NSPCC. The assembly was about why we would contact the NSPCC and how we would contact them. The children learnt that they have the right to be safe, the right to be heard and the right to be happy. Next week NSPCC are coming back in to run workshops with the children in Y5 and Y6 about different types of abuse and the rights they have as a child. If your child would like to speak to ChildLine the number is 0800 1111 or they can go online at www.nspcc.org.uk/buddy Multi Skills Year 3 and Year 4 Tuesday 24 November at John Wilmott The children performed really well throughout all of the 10 events pushing each other on and showing fierce determination. We then finished a very respectable joint 4th place. Well done team!
E-Safety Acceptable Use Rules If your child has been given a copy of the above today please read with your child, sign and return as soon as possible. Thank you for your support. Free School Meals A form was sent home regarding the above; if you think that you are entitled to Free School Meals please contact the school office. Thank you. CAS Barefoot A leaflet has been sent home with your child today Supporting Your Child s Learning in Computing. You will find a lot of important and helpful information in this leaflet. Including free programme tools and free programme apps. Christmas Raffle Tickets Tickets were sent home on Tuesday with the children, there are some fantastic prizes to be won! The books and money should be returned by Wednesday 2 December. Please return any unsold books. Thank you for your support. St Andrew s Day On Monday 30 November we will be celebrating St Andrew s Day. This will be a non-uniform day and children are asked to wear Blue clothes. Thank you for your support. Supplementary Forms If you have a child who is due to start Early Years in September 2016, the deadline for the supplementary forms to be returned is Friday 4 December. Thank you.
Christmas Fayre on Friday 4 December from 3.20pm to 5.20pm Please put this important date in your diary. The last request! On Friday 4 December each child is asked to bring: Friday 4 December Mince pies or homemade cakes from KS1 and yule logs or homemade cakes from KS2. This will be a non-uniform day. Thank you once again for your support it is appreciated. Volunteers Calling any volunteers! Please come and help out at our Christmas Fayre, we would be extremely grateful, even half an hour to help with washing up would be gratefully appreciated. If your child is in Year 5 or Year 6 and they would like to help please contact the school office and leave your details. Thank you for your support. Rent a table There are tables available to rent at our Christmas Fayre, please contact the office for further details. Thank you. Football Training In order for everyone to attend and enjoy the Christmas Fayre on Friday 4 December, football training is cancelled. School Choir Our school choir will be singing at the following events: Friday 4 December, 4.00pm to 4.30pm, Christmas Fayre in school. Wednesday 9 December, 12.30pm at The Oaks (residential home) Saturday 12 December at 9.45am, House of Fraser in Sutton Coldfield. Tuesday 8 December at 1.30pm, OAP Christmas Lunch at the Church Hall. These are lovely opportunities for the children to perform to a variety of audiences and show the rewards of their hard work. I look forward to a high participation at all these events.
KS1 Christmas Production The Very Hopeless Camel There will be two performances: Tuesday 8 December with refreshments served from 2.15pm and the performance starting at 2.30pm. Also, on Wednesday 9 December refreshments served at 9.15am and the performance starting at 9.30am. The children (and staff!) have been practising really hard. We look forward to seeing you at one of the performances. PTA Christmas Disco This will be held on Thursday 10 December from 3.20pm to 4.30pm. If you are available to help please contact the school office. Thank you for your support. KS2 Carol Service Rehearsals On Friday 11 December and Monday 14 December all the KS2 children will be going to Church at 1.30pm to rehearse for their Carol Service. On both days children are required to be collected from Church at 3.10pm, this will allow parents to collect siblings from school for 3.20pm. If your child attends Kids Club or after school tennis they will walk back to school with staff. Thank you for your support. Year 1 trip to Asda A letter has been sent home with our Year 1 children today giving information regarding a visit to Asda on Monday 14 December. Please contact office if you require a copy. Thank you. KS2 Carol Service This will be held in Church on Monday 14 December at 6.00pm. Please come along to support our children. Christmas Lunch On Tuesday 15 December, we will be having our Christmas lunch in school for children and staff. All children are invited to take part, so if your child does not usually have a school meal, they are more than welcome to have one on that day. A letter will be sent home with children giving further details. This will be a non-school uniform day. Children can wear their Christmas jumpers on that day to get into the Christmas spirit.
Cinderella We have arranged for The Working Theatre Company to visit the school on Thursday 17 December 2015 to perform Cinderella. This is a lovely Christmas pantomime for all children and is great value for money at 3.00 per child. Please send the correct money in a sealed envelope labelled Pantomime Visit stating your child s name and class into school by Friday 4 December. Thank you. Toy Day On Friday 18 December children can bring a toy into school. Please do not send your child with an expensive toy as the school will not accept responsibility if this gets broken. The children need to wear full school uniform for this day. Attendance Our school strives for 100% attendance. Did you know...? Whilst an attendance figure of 90% does appear to be good, this is equal to missing half a day every week and across the whole year, is equal to four weeks of missed school work! This week the Attendance Award was won by Year 6 with 99.63%! The Punctuality Award for the week: Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6. Recommendations: EYFS: Annie E, Charlie G Year 1: Olivia A, Joseph K Year 2: Whole Class, Olivia H Year 3: Erin P, Aaron S Year 4: Charlie BH, Jack R Year 5: Jake W, Nhea R Year 6: Ryan B, Abigail W. Lunchtime Award: Tyrese L (Y1). Class of the Week: Year 4. Angel of the Week Each week we will be recognising those children who we feel have made that extra special effort and show the virtues in their daily life. This half term we are try to be attentive and discerning. This week s winners are: Year 1: Niamh C Year 2: Orlaith F, Ella W Year 3: Harrison S, Samuel S, James M Year 4: Abigail E Year 5: Jack Mc I. Happy Birthday to the following children who have celebrated their birthdays this week: Daniel S (Y1), Isla H (Y2), James M, Ethan L, Charlotte L (Y3), Charlie BH (Y4) and Rebecca D (Y6).
Dates for your diary - November Monday 30 November all day Non school uniform day children to wear blue for St Andrew s Day Dates for your diary - December Tuesday 1 December 9.15am Computer Xplorers assembly for children Friday 4 December 3.20pm 5.20pm Christmas Fayre Friday 4 December all day No school uniform donation of cakes Tuesday 8 December 1.30pm Choir to sing at senior citizens lunch Church hall Tuesday 8 December 2.30pm KS1 Christmas Production Wednesday 9 December 9.15am KS1 Christmas Production Wednesday 9 December 12.30pm Choir to sing at The Oaks Thursday 10 December 3.20pm 4.30pm PTA Christmas Disco Friday 11 December 1.30pm 3.10pm KS2 Carol rehearsal in Church collect children at 3.10pm Saturday 12 December 9.45am Choir singing at House of Fraser, Sutton Coldfield Monday 14 December am HSBC in school Monday 14 December am Year 1 visiting Asda, Minworth. Monday 14 December 1.30pm KS2 Carol rehearsal in Church collect children at 3.10pm Monday 14 December 6.00pm KS2 Carol service in Church Tuesday 15 December am Flu Busters! Immunisation for Year 1 and Year 2 Tuesday 15 December 12.00pm Christmas dinner for staff and children Thursday 17 December 2.00pm Pantomime company in school - Cinderella Friday 18 December All day Toy Day - children can bring one toy to school Dates for your diary January 2016 Monday 4 January Children return to school Tuesday 12 January All day Life Education in school for KS2 Wednesday 13 January 7.30pm PTA Meeting Tuesday 19 January 9.15am Year 4 Assembly Tuesday 19 January am School nurse in school Year 6 height and weight check Thursday 21 January All day School Council to London! Houses of Parliament Saturday 30 January time tbc Swimming Gala at Stechford Cascades Dates for your diary February 2016 Tuesday 2 February 9.15am Year 5 Assembly Thursday 4 February 7.00pm Confirmation for Year 6 *Other dates available on website Have a lovely weekend. Yours sincerely T Cotter Miss T Cotter Principal